Pages

Wednesday, February 22, 2012

Flower Hill Farm BUTTERFLIES OF 2011 ~ Favorite Crescents

Now for some more of the lovely Brushfooted Butterflies of the Nymphalidae family.

The wing patterns of thePearl CrescentPhyciodes tharos, vary significantly as you will see in the three featured here. This butterfly was from a late May 2011 brood and is feasting on what I believe to be a Robin's Plantain Erigeron pulchellus.

It is hard to believe that the third instar caterpillars of the last broods from September are wintering over out in the fields and gardens somewhere near their host native aster plants. I hope they are safe from the many juncos, goldfinches and robins who are constantly combing the snowless areas of ground. Though since the female butterfly deposits up to 700 eggs in groupings of 20 -300 on aster leaves, there may well be an abundance of surviving dormant caterpillars to spare a few tasty bites for the birds. Birds must survive the winter somehow too.

Male Pearl Crescent ~ Note Flat Tip of Abdomen

Another Late May Pearl Crescent Minus One Antenna

Another late May male, I am guessing, but the outlines on all the wings are so much darker. It might just be that I took this photo in a less sunny spot.

These butterflies will nectar on most any flower. Above is a female enjoying marjoram flowers. Bright mid July sun washes out the more vivid colors of this Pearl Crescent.

Female Pearl Crescent ~ Note Pointed Tip of Abdomen

This female Pearl Crescent was captured feeding on a Rudbeckia in August of 2011.

I find these butterflies even more difficult to identify than the varied Fritillaries. Sometimes just seeing the negative space can help us see forms. Each of these three different Pearl Crescents is on a different flower and I have them placed so as to show the varying patterns on the wings. By draining the color away in the top photos we can more easily see the patterns.

It is easiest to identify the Pearl Crescent by seeing her underwings. Note the pearly white crescent on the butterfly below.

Flower Hill Farm 2010 ~ Note ~ Pearly Crescent on Underwing

In 2010 the middle garden/meadow was filled with hundreds of these tiny 1 - 1 1/2 inch wing span Pearl Crescents.It was magical walking amongst the multitude of sunlit wings flitting about the large stand of gooseneck.

Pearl Crescent 2009 in the spring garden

I found this image from the gardens of 2009. The variety of the wing patterns is so confusing but beautiful. I cannot believe anyone could call this small butterfly dull.

We are still living out the mild winter of 2012 and though there are no beautiful butterflies flying about, there are plenty of birds that gather each morning atop Michael's Black Cherry to await the rising sun. The colors of the goldfinches are beginning to turn yellow again.

One solitary bluebird seems to hangout with nearly fifty finches. I hope they help keep him warm at night.

The golden sun is climbing farther to the north each day along Walnut Hill. March is nearly here and spring will not be far for this corner of New England.

50 comments:

Fantastic photos ! I often go back to look at all my Butterfly photos as well . I cant wait till summer to be back in the garden and fields photographing the Butterfly's and wild flowers ! Have a good day !

Stunning photos - especially love the shot of the finches with the bluebird. I've only seen a bluebird once, and briefly, in my garden, shortly after we installed our pond - we're longing to see more this year. I learn something every time I stop in here!

Really liked this series of Pearl Crescents. You got the sexes right too, I usually go by the skinny versus fat abdomen. There can be a great deal of variation in these tiny butterflies, notably each brood can be different from the last brood. Going up to 76 tomorrow!

I am amazed at your diligence in observing the differences. I cannot see that because my photos are not the way i want them to be, as my butterflies have already dried their wings when they arrive. Maybe they dry them longer in colder climates. Now i learned a very notable difference between male and female. I always do that with just their colors because i normally dont see their abdomen. I can only observe fully whenever i see a dead one.

What a fascinating post! I am happy I've learned to identify some of the different species of butterflies in recent years, but I have so much more to learn about them. Beautiful images of a sweet little butterfly.

I like this cutie pie butterfly~They visit my garden, but I'm more likely to see the Silvery Checkerspot~and are they similar looking! I can't wait to see the butterflies again, but, in the meantime the birds are perfect garden flowers! xogail

Carol these butterflies don't visit our region but it must be lovely to see so many of them on your property each year to give you such great opportunities for photographing them. I hope you've got a herd of caterpillars out in those aster fields just now!

Oh my I have seen a post by you on several blogs including mine about BUTTERFLIES OF 2011 ~ Favorite White Admiral & Red-spotted Purple, yet clicking on it, it says the posts does not exist. Blogger must have some problems, I have had 3 comments by Sweetbay end up in my spam box for no reason.

Oh, Randy I am sorry . . . it is not blogger but my new mind . . . which tires very easily and hit publish too soon! I went and deleted the posts but could not take the icon off. I now know how I can. The post is coming right up!!

Report Monarch Sightings

Flower Hill Farm Retreat's New Website

You are Welcome to Visit and Explore the diversity of a New England Wildlife Habitat offering twenty-one acres of rambling hillside gardens allowed to go wild, fields and forest. Spectacular Butterflies, Expansive Sky and Views. Birders Paradise!

Birds of Flower Hill Farm

Nearly Seventy Species Featured by Families

Suffering from Nature-Deficit Disorder? Come for a Visit to our Wildlife Habitat.

Flower Hill Farm Accommodations

Butterflies of Flower Hill Farm

Nearly Fifty Species Featured by Families

Trustwave

Google Website Translator Gadget

The Sky Above Flower Hill Farm

Ever Changing Sea of Clouds and Light

Search This Blog

Loading...

A Landscape of One's Own

For thirty years, I have been farming/gardening, observing and documenting a twenty-acre New England hillside paradise, which includes organic wildly cultivated rambling gardens, fields of wildflowers and organic blueberries, forest, fabulous views and expanse of sky. My greatest joy in working with the land is seeing how my farm has evolved into a habitat . . . home to a diverse community of wildlife. My blog is a journal of all the comings and goings of the flora and fauna here. All the photographs featured are taken at Flower Hill Farm ~ unless noted otherwise.